The Isle of Man’s flagship ferry, Manxman, has returned to service after technical issues forced it out of operation earlier this week, bringing an end to days of disruption on the busy Douglas–Heysham route.
The vessel was taken out of service on Monday after smoke was detected in a machine room, sparking a temporary emergency response onboard. While the incident was quickly contained, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company withdrew the ship for investigation and repairs, leaving back-up vessel Ben-My-Chree to handle both freight and passenger crossings.
However, the stand-in service encountered issues of its own. On Wednesday, severe delays were reported when damage to firefighting equipment on the Ben-My-Chree forced further schedule disruption. Repairs were carried out, allowing the vessel to continue its crossings until the Manxman was ready to return.
On Wednesday evening, the Steam Packet confirmed that Manxman had completed sea trials in Douglas Bay following successful repairs, clearing the vessel to rejoin the fleet. By Thursday, daytime passenger sailings between Douglas and Lancashire had resumed as scheduled.
The Ben-My-Chree, which has long served as the company’s reliable freight and passenger vessel, has since returned to freight-only duties for the remainder of the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT period. Its final passenger service from Heysham docked in Douglas at 12:45 BST on Thursday.
Steam Packet managing director Brian Thomson acknowledged the difficulties caused by the disruptions but stressed that safety and reliability remained the company’s priority.
“While we have largely managed to maintain continuity of services, the scheduled times have proven impossible to maintain,” he said. “We have tried to mitigate this as much as possible, but fully accept that cancellations or changes to schedules have a major impact on travel plans.”
The timing of the disruption could hardly have been more challenging, coming as the Isle of Man hosts the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT motorcycling events—an important period for tourism and transport on the island.
Many visitors depend on reliable ferry links between the island and the UK, particularly the Heysham route, which carries both foot passengers and vehicle traffic.
Passengers expressed frustration over delays earlier in the week, though some acknowledged the company’s efforts to keep services running. With the Manxman back in operation, attention now turns to ensuring smooth crossings for the remainder of the festival season.
The £78 million Manxman only entered service in August 2023, replacing the long-serving Ben-My-Chree as the flagship of the Steam Packet fleet. The vessel boasts increased capacity and upgraded facilities, and its reliability is seen as central to the island’s transport infrastructure.
The Steam Packet, which is owned by the Isle of Man Government, has faced scrutiny over the disruption, but the return of the Manxman is expected to ease pressure on the company as it continues to navigate one of its busiest times of year.
